The Age Of The Animated Dark Comedy Is Here

For the longest time, animation was aimed specifically at children or young adults. Disney and other major markets would produce animated programs with themes of magic, the power of love and friendship, and the adventures of a certain mouse as he conquered many different situations. Somewhere along the way, though, the idea was had to make animated programs aimed more at teens and adults. FOX came out with The Simpsons, which has gone on to become pop culture history. MTV came out with programs like Beavis and Butthead and Daria. Seth McFarlane became a television juggernaut with shows Family Guy and American Dad. All these shows kept popping up, and essentially played out the same or similar situations. Then things began to get dark.

With the rise of instant streaming and the maturing of audience tastes (for the most part), adult animation has hit an all time hi terms of quality. Netflix has produced several series that cater to an older audience and discuss actual issues faced by many, including depression, drug abuse, poverty, the difficulty of raising children in a bad economic climate, and the turmoil found in current event politics. Netflix programs like Bojack Horseman, F Is For Family, and the upcoming Big Mouth all tend to focus on issues that teenage and 20-something audiences relate to, and take rather dark measures with the comedy within them, making for some amazing writing and messages.

Over on Comedy Central, South Park still reigns supreme as the cutting edge of satire. The series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone has stuck around much longer than anyone thought, and has since become an excellent POV for modern satire, with the main core of characters actively (and profanely) addressing everything occurring in pop culture and politics and making sure nothing is off limits.

Finally, on Cartoon Network's [Adult Swim] block, creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland have come up with the mother of all dark comedies with their hit series Rick and Morty. Tackling issues like depression, divorce, political corruption, and everything in between with a sense of nihilism and intelligence, the series has built a huge following and cemented itself as a dark comedy gem.

Cartoons are no longer about distracting your child for 30 minutes with bright lights and messages about sharing. They now can make us think, laugh at the current events of our world, and make us feel. They're no longer for little ones, and have established their own presence and fan-bases. We're living in a time where the dark comedy reigns supreme, especially in animated form. Hopefully, this will lead audiences to expect more out of their entertainment.

To the guy that shot my brother...

On January 9, 2019 my families entire life changed with one phone call. The phone call that my little brother had been shot in the face, no other details. We didn't need any other details. The woman on the phone who called us in full panic told us where he was so we went, as soon as possible. I don't think it helped that not even 10 min prior I talked to Zach on the phone.. kind of irritated with him, and the ONE TIME I didn't say 'I love you' as we hung up. Could've been the last time we ever spoke.. I remember pulling up to the hospital thinking 'this can't be real' 'it's not our Zach' 'this is just a dream Sarah, WAKE UP' I'd close my eyes really tight just to open them, I was still in the hospital emergency parking lot. I could still hear the ambulance sirens coming. It was all real.

The day our life's changed was definitely a test of faith. A test of how strong we were, as a family. I sat in that waiting room ready to see the damage that has been done to my sweet baby brother. Because at that point we had no idea how lucky he got. That glimpse of seeing Zach will haunt me forever. How helpless I felt in that exact moment frequently wakes me up from these horrific dreams I've been having ever since that day. That is a moment burned into my me and families brain forever.

You always hear about these things in the movies or on the news, a house being shot up, someone shooting another innocent person, not to care if they died on your watch. But we found ourselves on the news.. We have been confined to the hospital since that day. Running on barely any sleep, taking shifts of sleep so we don't make ourselves sick taking care of Zach. Watching him suffer. Undergoing surgeries, to repair the damage you did.

Before I proceed let me tell you a little something about the man you shot.

Zachary Keith Wright. A blonde hair blue eyed boy. Who could potentially be the most annoying human on the planet (possibly coming from his sister). A man who loves his God first, loves his family second. Perfect by no means, but almost perfect to me. A 19 year old who was to graduate high school this month. After graduation he was prepping to leave for Marine boot camp in the summer.. being in the military has been Zach's dream since he could talk. Literally. Running around, playing war with underwear on our heads, and finger guns. Some would say we looked like natural born assassins.. growing up he has been a country boy. Let me tell ya country to the core. He loves this country like he loves his family. He believes in helping people, taking charge in what's right, and never leaving a brother behind. He's lived by that his whole life. Until now....

The day you shot him. The day not only did you change my brothers life, you changed his families life too. The day you almost ripped my brother out of this world... for what? A misunderstanding? Because you've let something take ahold of your life that you can't let go you're willing to kill someone innocent over? Luckily for him, his guardian angels were protecting him in your time of cowardice. There were 3 times that day he should've died, the time you shot him, the time you tried to shoot him again as he stared you directly in the face, (even tho he couldn't talk I know you could read his eyes, and he still intimidated you. That's why you tried to pull the trigger again) and the time he was running out of the house. But he lived. A man who was shot in the face, didn't lay there helpless, didn't scream in agony. That MAN walked to the neighbors to get help. Why? Because he's a MAN, and because he's on this earth for a reason.

It's gonna sound a little strange not only to you, but the audience who is reading this. I must say thank you. Even in this situation, this was the best outcome we could get. He gets to live. He will make a full recovery. He will graduate. And he will go off into the Marines. You united my family together. Closer than ever. Thank you. You tested our faith and brought us closer to our God. Thank you. Because of your moment of weakness, you showed us what prayer could do. Heal anything. Thank you. This was a bump in the road, and a helluva way to kick off our year of 2019. But here we are.. all laying in the hospital. I'm looking around as mom is sleeping in her recliner chair exhasted but still here, Zach his awake playing his xbox all hooked up to machines, fighting to heal and get better. And of course I'm writing this letter to you.

23 Things That ~Barely~ Run Through A Girl's Mind During Her First Workout In, Like, Forever

It's the beginning of the semester and that means half of the students on campus have decided that we are going to go back to the gym after their workout routine fell through last semester. It's been months since we've stepped foot in the gym, but we are ready to attack it and get fit. That is until we get there and start going.

1. How did I get to the gym? Didn't I walk here? That should count as exercise

2. Why am I here?

3. Are these clothes tighter than they were last time?

4. Why is every single machine full? What am I supposed to do?

5. Is everyone looking at me?

6. I can't remember where anything is here

7. Okay, I am going to set this at the easiest level

8. Can I go home yet?

9. Is 3 minutes long enough? No, darn it.

10. How many calories have I burned? Only 10 are you kidding me!

11. Why is everyone else here going so hard? I look like a slacker

12. I am so sweaty right now

13. Maybe I should get a smoothie as a reward for working out

14. I am literally dying right now. I am about to drop dead

15. Only 5 more minutes to go. I've got this!

16. I don't got this

17. Why do people come here every day?

18. Last minute I'm going to go so hard right now

19. Just kidding that two seconds was good enough. I'm going to cool down for the last 58

20. Hallelujah, praise Jesus, I am done!

21. I am so tired

22. My body is so sore

23. I can't believe I have to walk home now. I've already done my exercising for the day